Brilliant Restaurant, Southall, London
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Trying to pick “the best” restaurant in Southall, London’s biggest Indian and Pakistani community, is an almost impossible task. There are too many, but The Brilliant has the name, the history, and the food. The Anand family have been running this operation for half a century – starting in Kenya - but for the last 20-odd years here, to the delight of West London.
Southall Broadway on a Saturday has the best Asian shopping in London but as you make your way through the stalls and shops, past the dozens of restaurants and their delicious aromas, try to break away towards Western Road, the 5 minute journey’s worth the trip to this North Indian.
The Brilliant has had every award and accolade bestowed on it for years, every guidebook recommends it, VIPs including HRH Prince Charles have been here.
Don’t let me sway your decision when studying the menu, but as far as I’m concerned they’re all here for one thing. The Butter Chicken. I’ve never tasted anything like it. “Cooked with a touch of butter,” it says on the menu – pah!
The Jeera and Chilli Chickens are good too, but I know which one I can taste right now. And how much butter’s in it.
Not being a vegetarian, I’ve never heard of half the dishes on that part of the menu (Pilli Pilli Boga? Alu Chollay anyone?) but it’s the only place I order egg curry. F.A.B. Try the Masala chips too!
Interestingly, the younger members of the Anand family (Dipna and Sharker) are taking over proceedings and introducing healthier options – dishes cooked with oils and yoghurts, eschewing ghee, cream and high levels of fat, pioneering Vegetable Keema (soya mince and peas) and Methi Chicken, cooked with olive oil.
The staff willingly guide and advise (order the kulcha!) but there are whole table options which save the bother. Three or four or five of you can just let them bring it on.
Travellers tip: Even Londoners can be vague about Southall, which is near to Heathrow Airport. The fastest route from Central London is the commuter trains from Paddington, which take just over ten minutes.
Western Road, Southall 72-76, London, UK
Contact tel: +44 20 8574 1928, e-mail:
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Brilliant Restaurant website
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I diametrically oppose what I have read in the article about The Brilliant. First, the matter of judging food is arguably one of the most subjective issues known to human beings. Based on what I’d seen in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant challenge, I decided to have a look at The Brilliant. An order of two meagre starters, two mains and a large bottle of sparkling water came to a shocking £44! This is Southall not the West End! The tilapia fish starter was undercooked and overladen with a spicey masala. The same went for the main course of tilapia and palak paneer which was totally flavourless. The highly vaunted roomali roti was undercooked. One top of that my partner had indigestion all night. Southall is bristling with excellent, competitively priced indian subcontinental food, but none of it is available at The Brilliant. This seriously undermines the credibility of someone like Gordon Ramsay and all the food critics who have lauded accolades on The Brilliant. Not recommended in any way.